Revenue-generating electronic multi-media exchange and process of operating same

Abstract

In a process for creating media content, media submissions are requested and electronically received from end users and stored in a computer database. The submissions are searched for material to be included in the media content, and cross-checked against the other submissions for originality and timeliness. After the material is selected from one or more submissions, the content is developed and released to an audience for review. The end users whose submission material was included in the released content are rewarded. In one embodiment, third parties are permitted to access and search the submissions on an open exchange. The third parties can bid for rights in submissions on the open exchange. After receiving these bids, they are forwarded to the particular submission's end user for acceptance or rejection. Appropriate billing and payment processes are used to bill and pay the parties involved.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-based system comprising:
 an electronic media submissions server subsystem having one or more data processing apparatus and an electronic media submissions database stored on a non-transitory medium and a submissions electronic interface configured to receive electronic media submissions from a plurality of submitters over a public network and store said electronic media submissions in said electronic media submissions database, wherein the electronic media submissions database further stores data identifying the submitter and data indicating content for each electronic media submission; 
 a user database comprising one or more user attributes stored therein; 
 an electronic multimedia creator server subsystem operatively coupled to the electronic media submissions server subsystem, having one or more data processing apparatus and an electronic creator multimedia database stored on a non-transitory medium, configured to select and retrieve a plurality of electronic media submissions from the electronic media submissions database using an electronic content filter located on the electronic multimedia creator server, said filter being based at least in part on at least one of the one or more user attributes to develop multimedia content to be electronically available for viewing on user devices, wherein the identification of the submitter is maintained with each selected and retrieved submission within the multimedia content; 
 an electronic release subsystem operatively coupled to the electronic multimedia creator server subsystem, having one or more data processing apparatus and configured to make the multimedia content electronically available for viewing on one or more user devices; and 
 an electronic voting subsystem having one or more data processing apparatus and configured to enable a user to electronic vote for or electronically rate an electronically available multimedia content or an electronic media submission within a respective electronically available multimedia content. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein an electronic media submission includes one or more images and text. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the submissions interface is further configured to receive solicited and unsolicited electronic media submissions. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein an electronic media submission includes text data. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further includes an editing subsystem configured to enable a user to edit the multimedia content. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the multimedia content includes video. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic filter includes criteria identifying a media submission's subject matter. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic filter includes criteria identifying a media submission's topic. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic filter includes criteria identifying a media submission's categorical information. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic filter includes criteria identifying a media submission's title. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic filter includes criteria identifying a media submission's text. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic filter includes criteria identifying a media submission's time of submission. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic filter includes criteria identifying a media submission's end user rating. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic filter includes criteria identifying a media submission's end user votes. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic filter includes criteria defined by keywords. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter mechanism includes criteria defined by Boolean logic. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic voting subsystem enables a user to electronic vote for an electronically available multimedia content. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic voting subsystem enables a user to electronic vote for an electronic media submission within a respective electronically available multimedia content. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic voting subsystem enables a user to electronic rate an electronically available multimedia content. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic voting subsystem enables a user to electronically rate an electronic media submission within a respective electronically available multimedia content. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user attributes comprise one or more of:
 one or more user preferences; 
 one or more user memberships; 
 one or more subjects; 
 one or more categories; and 
 one or more stored searches. 
 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic media submissions database further stores date and time of the submission.